Tuesday, 22 August 2017

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has buckled under pressure
and agreed to meet various party structures in the Matabeleland region to
explain the nature of the MDC Alliance before its official launch in Bulawayo
next month.

“I have been advised by our organising department that the
president [Tsvangirai] will meet our structures in the region [Matabeleland]
before the launch of the MDC Alliance on September 2,” Mwonzora said.

“As for the nature of the meetings, I am not sure yet.

“You would need to get finer details from our organiser
[Abednico] Bhebhe or the president’s spokesperson [Luke Tamborinyoka].”

Tsvangirai was endorsed as the leader of a coalition of
seven opposition parties, which include Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) and Welshman Ncube’s MDC.

However, questions remain on whether former Vice-President
and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Joice Mujuru will be part of the plan.

Barely a day after the announcement of the coalition was
made at a rally in Harare last month, Tsvangirai’s deputy Thokozani Khupe,
MDC-T national chairperson Lovemore Moyo and Bhebhe, who did not attend the
signing ceremony, were allegedly attacked by party youths, who accused them of
plotting against Tsvangirai.

An inquiry is underway, but the victims pointed an accusing
finger at Tsvangirai.

Khupe has not hidden her disdain for the coalition, arguing
the MDC-T is strong enough to win on its own in Matabeleland and has instead
said an alliance should be built in the Mashonaland provinces, where the party
has often lost to Zanu PF.

Moyo at the weekend ratcheted up pressure on Tsvangirai on
the coalition issue, declaring the former Prime Minister owed the people of the
region answers.

But Tamborinyoka said Tsvangirai would not be answering any
questions because he had the party’s mandate.

“The president will travel to

the region for the alliance launch and might take advantage
to engage provincial structures,” he said.

“It has nothing to do with what the national chairman is
reported to have said. “I must categorically state that there is no going back on
the issue of alliances.

“This stems from a congress resolution and was affirmed by
the national council.”

A senior opposition leader, who declined to be named, said
Tsvangirai risked losing some support from the western parts of the country.

“By failing to listen to leaders from the region and
bringing the Ncube-Biti axis, the MDC-T could actually lose more than gain,”
the official said. newsday